Letters to the editor for Monday, March 24, 2014

Published: Monday, March 24, 2014 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 21, 2014 at 7:21 p.m.

Hood takes a brave stand

I congratulate and support state Rep. Dave Hood, R-Ormond Beach, for his position on medical marijuana. This bill is important, not only to help people in need, but maybe to shed some light on how our society is being lost to prescription medications that on the surface are in line with the laws — but under that thin veil are destroying Florida. As Hood said, somebody dies every 19 minutes from a prescription drug overdose. The number from cannabis is zero. Reseach has proved the tremendous benefits of cannabis, and conversely the individual and national destruction of prescribed drugs.

The drug companies have fought hard to get their addictive and dangerous pills into legal acceptance, and yet many lawmakers will tell you those drugs are the biggest drug problem in this country. It’s very obvious that the drug companies have fought equally as hard to keep marijuana illegal, and the user portrayed as an addicted lowlife. The drug companies spend millions daily advertising on prime time TV to have their products accepted, used and hopefully, create addicts.

All the “mood balance” and pain pills have this country spinning out of reality, with out-of-control crime, family after family suffering and confused and a country rapidly decaying as a result. I know lawmakers have to fight one battle at a time, and hopefully get this medical marijuana passed, but I hope Hood’s fight won’t be over. To quote him, “The reason we’re here is to help the people.”

Prescribed pills are the biggest drug problem in this country and the hardest to control because they are legal. It’s very disturbing. We need guys like Hood with the position and political acuteness to fight for us. I understand one fight at a time, but — and a big but — the other issue is no less important.

Al Collins

Ormond Beach

Obama cost the U.S. respect

On Sept. 11, 2012, the U.S. embassy in Benghazi was attacked and four Americans were killed. President Obama gave a press conference at which he said, “Those responsible will be brought to justice.” We are now 18 months since the attack and none of the people responsible are reported to be in jail. That same year, it turns out that organizations with conservative agendas were targeted by the IRS to prevent them from gaining tax-exempt status. President Obama gave a press conference, at which he stated: “This is unacceptable.” He promised to “get to the bottom” of the incident and hold those responsible accountable. To date, nothing has happened, other than Lois Lerner pleading the Fifth twice under oath before Congress.

Fast forward to March 2014, and consider the events involving Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula. President Obama warned Vladimir Putin not to interfere with the internal politics of Ukraine. Obama said there would be consequences to any Russian actions. The Crimean peninsula has been annexed by Russia and is now part of that country. President Obama sanctioned the officials responsible for the takeover, but not Vladimir Putin. These officials have been in the media laughing at the president over this action and claiming that they are honored to be sanctioned. Putin is primed to take other parts of the former Soviet Union back, as our president has shown that he does not back up his words with any meaningful actions.

This type of leadership by President Obama is telling on the world stage. It only took five years for President Obama to destroy two centuries of worldwide respect for the United States of America.

Richard McArdle

Palm Coast

President took action

In response to the March 17 letter, “Not the JFK presidency,” criticizing President Obama. Better that all the writer’s information doesn’t come from Fox News. He owes more to the men and women still serving in the Bush/Cheney war, whose reasons we now know were lies (plural).

Where were the Republican voices of criticism of President George Bush for the little he did as Russia invaded Georgia?

This president has acted on the crisis in Ukraine. He has sent equipment and Air Force intelligence into Poland and the Baltics. He ordered the Air Force’s early warning and control system to monitor Ukraine.

Obama said he would, and did, capture and kill Osama bin Laden. When Bush was questioned at a press conference about continuing to pursue bin Laden, he had no shame in saying he didn’t think about bin Laden anymore. All of this while American soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians were dying.

Bush lied about the nuclear power of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, while ignoring the facts of North Korea’s nuclear build-up.

The concerns with Iran do not go unnoticed by this president just because Republicans say so.

Can you imagine if this were a Republican president and the Democrats were saying what is being said now about this president? Where is the patriotism at a time of great international concern? The GOP is great at bashing this president — yet never taking responsibility for the carnage during the Bush/Cheney years.

The embarrassing praise the Republicans have given to Putin makes a mockery of soldiers still in harm’s way, and those who’ve died in battle and those coming home dismembered and disabled.

<p class="bold allcaps">Hood takes a brave stand</p>
<p>I congratulate and support state Rep. Dave Hood, R-Ormond Beach, for his position on medical marijuana. This bill is important, not only to help people in need, but maybe to shed some light on how our society is being lost to prescription medications that on the surface are in line with the laws — but under that thin veil are destroying Florida. As Hood said, somebody dies every 19 minutes from a prescription drug overdose. The number from cannabis is zero. Reseach has proved the tremendous benefits of cannabis, and conversely the individual and national destruction of prescribed drugs.</p><p>The drug companies have fought hard to get their addictive and dangerous pills into legal acceptance, and yet many lawmakers will tell you those drugs are the biggest drug problem in this country. It’s very obvious that the drug companies have fought equally as hard to keep marijuana illegal, and the user portrayed as an addicted lowlife. The drug companies spend millions daily advertising on prime time TV to have their products accepted, used and hopefully, create addicts.</p><p>All the “mood balance” and pain pills have this country spinning out of reality, with out-of-control crime, family after family suffering and confused and a country rapidly decaying as a result. I know lawmakers have to fight one battle at a time, and hopefully get this medical marijuana passed, but I hope Hood’s fight won’t be over. To quote him, “The reason we’re here is to help the people.”</p><p>Prescribed pills are the biggest drug problem in this country and the hardest to control because they are legal. It’s very disturbing. We need guys like Hood with the position and political acuteness to fight for us. I understand one fight at a time, but — and a big but — the other issue is no less important.</p><p><strong>Al Collins</strong></p><p>Ormond Beach</p><h3>Obama cost the U.S. respect</h3>
<p>On Sept. 11, 2012, the U.S. embassy in Benghazi was attacked and four Americans were killed. President Obama gave a press conference at which he said, “Those responsible will be brought to justice.” We are now 18 months since the attack and none of the people responsible are reported to be in jail. That same year, it turns out that organizations with conservative agendas were targeted by the IRS to prevent them from gaining tax-exempt status. President Obama gave a press conference, at which he stated: “This is unacceptable.” He promised to “get to the bottom” of the incident and hold those responsible accountable. To date, nothing has happened, other than Lois Lerner pleading the Fifth twice under oath before Congress.</p><p>Fast forward to March 2014, and consider the events involving Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula. President Obama warned Vladimir Putin not to interfere with the internal politics of Ukraine. Obama said there would be consequences to any Russian actions. The Crimean peninsula has been annexed by Russia and is now part of that country. President Obama sanctioned the officials responsible for the takeover, but not Vladimir Putin. These officials have been in the media laughing at the president over this action and claiming that they are honored to be sanctioned. Putin is primed to take other parts of the former Soviet Union back, as our president has shown that he does not back up his words with any meaningful actions.</p><p> This type of leadership by President Obama is telling on the world stage. It only took five years for President Obama to destroy two centuries of worldwide respect for the United States of America.</p><p><strong>Richard McArdle</strong></p><p>Palm Coast</p><h3>President took action</h3>
<p>In response to the March 17 letter, “Not the JFK presidency,” criticizing President Obama. Better that all the writer’s information doesn’t come from Fox News. He owes more to the men and women still serving in the Bush/Cheney war, whose reasons we now know were lies (plural).</p><p>Where were the Republican voices of criticism of President George Bush for the little he did as Russia invaded Georgia?</p><p>This president has acted on the crisis in Ukraine. He has sent equipment and Air Force intelligence into Poland and the Baltics. He ordered the Air Force’s early warning and control system to monitor Ukraine.</p><p> Obama said he would, and did, capture and kill Osama bin Laden. When Bush was questioned at a press conference about continuing to pursue bin Laden, he had no shame in saying he didn’t think about bin Laden anymore. All of this while American soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians were dying.</p><p>Bush lied about the nuclear power of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, while ignoring the facts of North Korea’s nuclear build-up. </p><p>The concerns with Iran do not go unnoticed by this president just because Republicans say so.</p><p> Can you imagine if this were a Republican president and the Democrats were saying what is being said now about this president? Where is the patriotism at a time of great international concern? The GOP is great at bashing this president — yet never taking responsibility for the carnage during the Bush/Cheney years. </p><p>The embarrassing praise the Republicans have given to Putin makes a mockery of soldiers still in harm’s way, and those who’ve died in battle and those coming home dismembered and disabled.</p><p><strong>Midge Fournier</strong></p><p>DeLand</p>